Combined starting and safety device.



G. C. RICHARDS.

COMBINED STARTING AND SAFETY DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 1914.

1,174,352. Patented Mar. 7,1916.

I E a W N a $5 I N N l N l I a I I w w n f {b y I Q N o i A N XVITNE SSES: Liv EN'LOR 9/? 64202 9 0Ez'ciar@ AUS'I'EEN OF OAKLAND, JALI]?ORNIA. y

ToaZZ'whom it may concern: u 7 Be it known that I, GEoRcE C. RICHARDS," a citizen of the United States, residing at Berkeley, in the county of Alameda" and State of California, have invented new and useful" Improvements in Combined Starting and Safety Devices, of which the following is a specification. y

This invention relates to a I combined starter and safety attachment.

I The object" of the present invention is toprovide a simple, .compact, easilyoperated. connection, betweenthe crank shaft of an internal combustion engine and an electri 1-5 cally driven starting motor, which will permit-0f the engine 'being started either'bya hand-crank, of the usual construction, or by the electric motor. y

-A1iother object of the invention is to provide a safety'conhecti on which will prevent any back kick, either on the starting motor or hand-crank,;if the engine should happen to back-fire.

Further' objects will hereinafter appear.-

The invention consists of the parts and the construction andcombinatio'n of parts as hereinafterjmore fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which' v Figure l is ,a plan view showing the connection between the starting motor and the.

engine shaft.- Fig.2 is a section on line X-X, Fig. L Fig. 3 is'a front view-of the COMBINED'STARTING AND SAFETY nnvrcn.

. Specification of I etters Patent.

F cam clutch 12 and a ratchetwheel 13. The

clutch l2 and ratchet wheel 13 are formed ntegral with each other. and are housed and ournaled within thecasing 5 and are'inclosed therein by a plate 15. The clutch 12, together with .theratchet wheel 13, is only adapted to revolve in the direction normally taken by spring actuated pawl members 16, mounted in the lower part of the casing .5, are pro-- v1ded 'forthe purpose of preventing the clutch, with the' connected ratchet member, from revolving in the reverse direction if the engine should happen to back-fire.

Engageable with "the'clutch member 12 is a pair of stud projections 17 and 18 which are secured'on the end of the shaft. These are ad with'the vertical shoulders 19 and 20 of the clutch member 12 to form an I leasing action, hereinafter to be described.

The shaft 6 is adapted to'lnove longitudinally within the 'casin for the purpose .of throwing thestud meme bers 17 and 18 into engagementwith theshoulders on clutch 12,.and also for the-pun is normally actuated by a spring 20 which acts to hold the clutches 8 and 9 outof .en-

Patented Mar. 7, 1916. Application filed January 3, 1914. e'ria1No. 810,145.

apted to be thrown into engagement STATES PAT-EST FFIGE. f

, o nonen'c. nrcnim'ns, OF BERKELEY, onmromim, AISISIGNOR or ens-HALF To H. c. 4

the engine shaft, and suitable 5 and bearing 4Q safety connection.

gagement with each other and similarly end and in a member 5 at the other end,

rherelnafter't'o be termed the safety ooh- I 0 nect1on, 1s an extens on shaft 6, uponiwhlch' .is secured a gear 7 which inter-meshes with 45 the pinion 3. .One end of the shaft is pro-' vided with a jaw clutch 8, whichclutch 8 is 'adapted to be moved into driving. connec tion with a similar clutch 9, forinedor otherwise secured upon the end of the en 50 gine crank-shaft, and secured\ upon' the opposite end of the shaft is another aw clutch adapted to be throwninto Loosely mounted upon the shaft 6 is a 35 Referrin' to the drawings, Av indicates acts to throw the stud connections 17 and the crank s aft of a gas engine'or. like ma- :18 out of engagement with, shoulders 19 and chine; 2 an electrically driven starting mo: 20* on the clutch 1 2. tor; and fiat-driving pinion secured upon the One means for movingv the shaft longitushaft of the starting: motor. Y dinally is a rocker'arm21, which is pivot 4?) Suitably journaled in a standard .4 at one allvmounted at 22 on a; standard 23. One

end. of the rocker arm,is fork-shaped so as tostraddle a collar .24 on. Shaft 6. The upper-end of the lever is, connected through r a link 25 with a foot. lever or like operating means, not here shown. l

26' indicates a suitable form 6 arm 27 and a contacting member 28. -..The

of electric, switch having afpivotally mounted switch upper end of the switch arm i engaged by purpose of closing a circuit "through. the -11o.

starting motor seat, it is only necessary to depress the foot' lever in a direction which will cause the link 25 to rock the arm 21 in the direction of arrow 12. This movement will be ,transmittedthrough the lower end of the leverand collar 24, andcause the shaft 6 to move in the direction of arrow 0. The

.15 first partof the movement transmitted to shaft 6 and also to the, switch arm 27 is only sufiicient to throw the switch arm 27 from the dotted line position indicated at 27 into connection with the contact mem- 5 ber 28. This will close a circuit through I wires 30, 31 and 32 which are connected with a suitable form of battery and start the motor revolving. Further movement of the shaft 6, after'the motor has started and when theshaft 6 is revolving, will bring the clutch 8 into engagement-withthe engine clutch 9 and, movement will thus be trans- ,mitted to revolve the engine shaft in the direction indicated by arrow at. The m()- ment the engine starts,.it-can' be seen that the clutches 8and 9 will be thrown out of engagement. as a few explosions within the cylinders will cause the engine to speed T up beyond the speed of the shaft '6. The inclined faces of the connected jaw clutches will thus slide-away from each other and the shaft 6 will be moved back in the direction'opposite to arrow '0' a suficient distance to throw the clutches 8 and 9 out of engagement. This back movement is felt upon the foot lever and the operator will then release this? Spring 20 will then act and move the gear 7, with connected shaft 6,

back to the dotted line position indicated 40 at 7. The backward movement of the shaft will correspondingly be transmitted through lever 21 and link 25 to move the switch lever 27 back to the dotted line position indicated at 27 The circuit, between the battery and starting motor 2, is thus broken and the motor is consequently cut out from the circuit -or automatically stopped.

If the engine'should happen to back fire the moment clutches 8 and 9 are thrown into engagement with each other, 1t can is thus prevented.

t engine.

bment clutch 9. The engine shaft. will thus be free to revolve and-any back kick on the starting motor and connected gears The engine may also be cranked by "hand, if desired, a .handcrankll of the usual construction being provided'fo'r this purpose, In& this instance it is only necessary to throw the crank 11 into engagement with clutch 10' and give the shaft 6 an inward movement in the direction of arrow 0, in

' opposition to. the tensionof spring 20. The

inward movement of the shaft, caused by, pressure of the hand crank 11, will move the shaft 6 in the direction of the arrow 0 so and bring clutch 8 into engagement with clutch- 9 on the engine It is then' only necessary to turn the crank in the direction of arrow a in the usual manner to start the should happen to back fire, is obviatedinthis instance also as the stud members 17 and 18 will again ride-up the ificlined surfaces 17 and 18' of clutch 12 and pull the shaft 6, with connected clutch 8, out of engagementwith-theengine shaft. All danger of cranking the-engine by hand is'thus removed as shaft 6 can only revolve in a reverse direction a suficient distance to cause the stud members 17 and 18 to ride out of engagement with the clutch 12. A device constructed as here shown is sim;

' ple and compact in construction, may be operated as a self-starter or may be cranked by hand in the usual manner if desired.

Any operation of the foot lever will automatically close the starting circuit through motor 2. The gears 7 and3 are always intermeshing as pinion 3 is suifici'ently' long to permit the sliding movement desired.

' Furthermore the provision of the safety connection including the clutch 12 and ratchet 13 with connected pawls 16, prevents any reverse movement of the driving gears and motor All dangers usually encountered in starting an engine are thus obviated and the efiiciency and life of the connected parts are considerably increased.

The materials and finish of the several parts ,of the deviceare such as the eXperience and judgment of the manufacturer readilvbe seen that revolving motion, re may dictate.

5 verse to that indicated by arrow a, will immediately be transmitted to shaft 6, gears 55 7 and 3, and motor 2.- This is, however, prevented, as the ratchet members 16 will 7 immediately lock the ratchet wheel 13 and clutch 12 against reverse movement. stud members 17 and 18 being secured on to the shaft andrevolving in a direction opposite to that indicated by-arrow a will then engage with the inclined surfaces 17 and 18" and will thus move the shaft6 back in a direction oppositeto that indicated by 65 arrow 0 and throw clutchi'8 out of engagev ent is- The Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire'to secure by Letters Patx 1. In an engine startingmechanism, the combination of an engine shaft, an electric motor having suitable electrical connections, separable drive connections including a clutch between the motor and the engine shaft, a switch in the motor circuit, a clutch operating mechanism, means whereby on the throwing in of the clutch to couple the motor to the engine shaft said switch is closed, and means'acting automatically to detach use Any back kick, if the engine 5 30 *theclutch out of engagement ,ifthe engine back fires and reverses, said means comsaid clutch on a reverse movementjof the shaft longitudinally to throw the jaw clutch I I engine shaft.

2. The combination withthe crank shaft of aninternal combustion engine, of an extension shaft, an electrically driven starting' motor, gears connected withsaid motor to revolve the extension shaft, a jaw clutch connecting the extension shaft withthe en-. gine shaft, means for moving said extension-shaft longitudinally to throw the jaw clutchinto and out of eng gement with the engine shaft, means operaqile by said lastnamed means for making or breakin a circuit through the starting motor, an means on the extension shaft for automatically 'throwing the clutch out of engagement if the engine back firesand reverses.

3. The combination with the crank shaft M of an internal combustion engine; of an extension shaft, an electrically driven starting motor, gears connected with said "motor to revolve the extension shaft, a jaw clutch connecting the extension shaftwith the enlocking ment.-

- gineshaft, means for movingsaidextension.

shaft longitudinally to throw the jaw clutch into and out of engagement with the engine,

-shaft,' means operableby said last-named means for making or breaking a circuit through thestartingmotor, means on the extensionshaft for automatically, throwing prising a cam clutch, a pair of stud projec tions secured onv the extension shaft engageable with the cam clutch, and means for the cam clutch against reverse move- 4.-The combination with the crank shaft of an internal combustionen'gine, of an extension'shaft, an electrically driven starting motor, gears connected with said motor to' revolve the extension shaft, a jaw clutch I connecting the extension ,shaft with the eligine shaft, means for moving said extension shaft longitudinally to throw the jaw clutch into and out of engagement with the engine shaft, -means operable by said last-named means for making or ffbreakin'ga circuit through the starting motor-,- means on the verse movement.v

extension shaft for automatically throwing the clutch' out of engagement if the engine backifires and reverses, said means comprising a cam clutch, a pair of stud projections secured 'on ithe extenslon shaft eng'ageable with the cam clutch, a ratchet wheel secured on the cam clutch, and pawls engageable with the ratchet wheel to lock it against re- 5. The combination with the crank shaft of an internal "combustion engine, of an ex tension shaft, an electricallydriven starting motor, gearsgconnectedwith said motor to revolve. the extensionshaft, a jaw clutch connecting the extension shaft with the env o o gine shaft, means for moving said extenslon into' and out of engagement with the engine shaft, means for'normally holding the said clutch out of engagement, means formaking or breaking a circuit through the starting' motor, and means on the extension shaft for'automatically throwing the clutch out of engagement if the engine back fires and reverses. i

6. The combination with the crank shaft of an, internal combustion'engine, of an extensionshaft, an electrically driven starting motor, gears connected withsaid motor to revolve the extension shaft, a jaw clutch on the extension shaft, a jaw clutch on the engine shaft, a rocker a'rm for movingthe ex tension shaft longitudinally, a link connected to the-rocker arm, a flanged collar on -said link, a switchmounted in the electric shaft adapted to be thrown intoengagement with the cam clutch, and pawls engageable with the ratchet wheel to lock the ratchet wheel and connected cam clutch against reas. described verse movement, substantially and for the purposes set forth.

7. In an engine starting mechanism, the

combination of an engine shaft, an electric motor having suitable electrical connections, separable drlve connections mcludlng an extension shaft and a clutch betweenthe motor and the engine shaft, a switch in the motor circuit, a ,clutch operating mechanism, means wherebyon the throwing in of the clutch to couple the motor to the engine shaft saidswitch is closed, and means automatically to detach said clutch on a re- 'verse .movement of the engine shaft, and

extension shaft and through which the latter may slide lengthwise, saidsleeve carryinga' ratchet with means acting on the ratchet to permit the latter to turn inkone direction with the engine shaft, and holding the sleeve and ratchet against rotation when the en gine shaft turns in the opposite direction,

inclinedjaws formed on theend'of the sleeve and pins secured on 'the extension jaws to reciprocate the extension shaft; on reverse movement of the engine shaft motor having an elongated pinion gear sesion' shaft adapted to mtermesh with the elongatdpinion, a clutch between theextension shaftand the engine 'shaft, means for moving said extension shaft longitudi- V 105, acting meansrcomprising a sleeve surrounding the a a shaft which are engageable with the inclined nally to throw the clutch into and out of engagement with the engine shaft, means operable bysaid last-named means for making or breaking a circuit through the starting motor, and means on the extension shaft independent of the before-mentioned means for moving the extension shaft longitudinally for automatically throwing the clutch out of'engagementif the engine back fires and reverses.

9. The combination with the crank shaft Y of an internal combustionengine, of an extension shaft, an electrically driven starting for making or breaking a circuit through the starting motor, means acting normally to disconnect the extension shaft and motor shaft, and means on the extension shaft for automatically throwing the clutch out of engagement if the engine back fires and reverses. v i

10. In an engine starter, the combination with the crank shaft of an internal combustion engine, of an extension shaft having a longitudinal movement in line with the en- ,gine shaft, clutch connections between the two shafts whereby. they may turn in unison in one direction, an electrically-driven starting motor having afmotor shaft, a'nelongated gear on the motor shaft, a companion gear on the extension shaft, said gears remaining in mesh irrespective of whether the extension sl1aft,is coupled to the engine shaft or not, means acting normally to dis- I econnect the extension shaft and motor shaft, means for positively engaging them, and means for preyenting reverse movement of the extension shaft if the engine back fires. I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses; v JQHX H. Hmnuxc,

" V. W, HnALY;

GEORGE o. RICHARDS. 

